I know it is way to early but I bought some new seeds this summer to plant this fall. I want to get the beds fixed up in time - when do you winter plant your seeds around Dallas?
Mitch
Fall Planting
I usually scatter the seeds late October till the end of November as space becomes available.
Josephine.
One thing I've always wondered about. I try to be sure I've got a good layer of mulch down for the winter. Do I scatter seed on top of the mulch, or under the mulch? Shear indecision has kept me from even trying either way.
See I am going to put leaves down - same question - if I put them under the leaves then I hae the problem of not knowing for sure if they will grow up from under the leaves... but on top will they get their roots in the soil?
Most of the things I've read about planting seeds say to plant them on bare dirt and when they get to be about 2" tall you cover them with mulch. Some seeds can't even be covered with dirt. They have to have the sun hitting them. You can have mulch in the rows next to the seeds so that it's handy when you do need it and it discourages weeds.
Hmmm, I won't really have rows, I'm wanting to scatter wildflower seed, etc. I gues I could try half and half, and see what happens. Nothing to lose!
Thanks silverfluter! that is just what I needed to know. Now to start the digging and planning the areas out.
I threw some Aquilegia seed on top of the mulch last year and we had 3 or 4 new plants this year. Same with the Mexican Petunia, only that spread its own seed, on top of the mulch. I think it varies with each plant/seed though.
Maggiemoo, you have mail.
No, you really can't scatter seeds on top of mulch, they have to come in contact with the soil. You might be able to put a thin layer of fine mulch over some of the larger seeds, but not much.
The best way is to prepare a seed bed, and work the soil to a fine texture, and then scatter the seed, that is how I normally do it, scattering at random will waste
a lot of seed. If the seed is very small, as with Penstemon. you just pat it down, and if it is larger, you can dust it with some soil or peat moss and water very gently so as not to disturb the seed. then you water when necessary and wait.
So it is a live and learn? I guess I could always plant half and half and see what works best for each... Ever wonder why there is no one answer in gardening? Keeps us going I guess - and life interesting!
Wildseed Farms in Fredricksburg has a lot of planting information. Their catalog has photos of the seedlings which helps to identify them. Many of them form flat rosettes that hug the ground and mulch would cover all the leaves. Josephine has a point, the soil has to be prepared and the seed must come in contact with the soil. The seed catalog is a handy reference.
http://www.wildseedfarms.com/